Austin Gomber Follows The Leader With New Role In Cardinals Bullpen

The big lefty is learning how to fit into a new role, as he could make his first big-league appearance in front of the home crowd.

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Although he's been in big leagues for a few days now, Austin Gomber still has yet to do the one things he's been looking forward to the most.

"Today will be the best, being able to be at a game at Busch Stadium," Gomber said Tuesday, before his first home game as a St. Louis Cardinal. "Being able to put the home uniform is something we don't get to do in spring training, obviously we wear red. So I've been looking forward to wearing the white for quite some time."

Gomber, who was 2-0 with the Memphis Redbirds and struck out 16 batters in his most recent start, has not yet been given a spot in the Cardinals rotation, but could be manager Mike Matheny's best left-handed option out of the bullpen.

Gomber says he hasn't pitched out of the bullpen since his college days at Florida Atlantic University. So he says he's spent Sunday's game, his first in the majors, hanging around Matt Bowman and Bud Norris – playing a game of follow the leader.

"I was just kind of bouncing questions off everybody," Gomber says. "Whenever they stretch, I'd stretch. Just trying to stay ready."

And he says he's not worried about being prepared for his new role.

"I don't think I'll have a problem getting loose," Gomber says. "I don't throw that much before starts so it's not anything that I think will be out of the ordinary."